Ruth

Being a single, young college student, when I first read Ruth I thought it was simply about a young woman who stayed faithful to her mother-in-law and was blessed by God. So my intentions were to stay faithful to God in hopes that I would find a wonderful, financially blessed man; of course I was all in. Then I read it again and again and again and one last time. Thank the Lord, or Ruth, that it was only a few chapters long. I’m so glad that I read it 5 times because each time I learned more and more.

I had so many different views of what Ruth was about, especially when I tried to apply it to my life. I’m an extremely wordy type of person, so God and I communicate through words and stories. Was he trying to tell me that my future husband is going to die?! Or maybe I would have to stick by my best friend’s side so we could have a wonderful blessing in the end? Then I realized that it honestly had nothing to do with my future husband or even my best friend. It had everything to do with God himself.

Throughout all of Naomi and Ruth’s friendship, Ruth trusted Naomi with basically her entire life. Ruth had the open opportunity of leaving Naomi, but chose to stay with her. God does this same thing with us. Nowhere in the bible or anywhere known does it say that God makes us stay with him. Free will is always an option, but hopefully we choose to follow and trust him.  Naomi gives countless examples of how God is with us. She tells Ruth where to go so that she can find food and she tells her what to do when she finds Boaz, in hopes that she would get married. Ruth never doubted for a second the intentions of Naomi because she trusted her with everything.

I believe that’s how God wants us to be - trusting him so much that we would give up our time, energy and even the thought of not going back to your friends and family, so that we may have the best life he has planned for us. I want to strive to be like Ruth every day, especially if it means finding MY Boaz.

- Jarren Templeton